Minerals are defined as the substances which are found beneath the surface and the list of minerals varies from one state to another. In general, fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, metals like gold, silver, copper and iron, gem stones, rock products, and so on will come under the category of minerals. As per the US government, the person who owns the land also owns all kinds of minerals beneath the land and he/she has all rights to explore the land, extract the minerals, lease his mineral rights or even sell his mineral rights which are different from the surface rights.

Even though the person sells the mineral rights of his/her property, all the surface rights belongs to him/her and can construct or do what ever he/she wants to do above the surface. Most of the people tend to sell their mineral rights when it comes to coal and other materials but when the minerals beneath the land are fossil fuels like the oil and gas they tend to lease them quite often.

Most of the oil and gas companies leases the mineral rights, that is they do not want to buy the land from where they tend to extract the mineral, but take them for lease. Main points in the lease include the description of the property, the duration of the lease and the payments to the lessor (owner). After the lessee purchases the legal rights he will acquire the right of reasonable access to leased land to explore, develop, and transport minerals. The lease continues between the lessee and the owner till the term which was mentioned in the agreement, which is called as primary term. And the lessee pays the annual rental in this period. The lease expires after the primary term if the lessee do not start any kind of drilling or extracting of minerals, but the lease will continue after the primary term if the lessee starts production and continues. The lessee can also extend the lease after the primary term if it is required.